Ex-police Chief To Be Investigated, State Panel Says

Former Dania Police Chief Rudolf Rigo must face an allegation that he falsified a high school diploma to obtain his state police certification in 1972, a state panel decided Wednesday.

The allegation could lead to Rigo`s decertification as a police officer in Florida, said Joe Kendrick, standards and training manager for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Rigo, 58, resigned his post last August on the same day the allegation about his diploma was delivered to the Broward County State Attorney`s Office.

Criminal charges were not filed, but former Assistant State Attorney Martin Jaffe said his investigation at the time indicated Rigo did not graduate from Kensington High School in New York but had altered his daughter`s diploma in order to receive his state police certification.

Rigo, who had been with the police force for 14 years and was appointed chief in 1977, cited health reasons for his resignation and has not commented on the allegation.

The allegation was made by lawyer Charles Whitelock, who said he discovered the suspected falsification while preparing a lawsuit against Rigo and the city.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement`s standards bureau has been reviewing the allegation.

On Wednesday, a three-member panel of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, meeting near Pensacola, found probable cause to pursue the allegation, Kendrick said.

Rigo was not at the hearing Wednesday, Kendrick said.

After Rigo is notified of the panel`s finding, he can choose to relinquish his certification or he can opt for a hearing, Kendrick said.

The final disposition will be made by the full commission, which meets four times a year, Kendricks said.